Benjamin Lawrence ’50

Ben died Dec. 23, 2020, in Cincinnati, Ohio, of COVID-19.

Coming to Princeton from St. Mark’s, he majored in chemical engineering, belonged to Prospect, and was an editor of The Princeton Engineer, for which he once interviewed Albert Einstein. He did postgraduate work at Kansas State.

His 42-year career with Procter & Gamble was interrupted by two years (1955-1957) in the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir. Startups were a part of his work in research and development of food and health-care products. Always innovative, Ben was granted eight patents. He retired as a quality-assurance manager.

Ben was an avid fisherman, making yearly trips to Canada. He raced small sailboats competitively. In retirement he enjoyed his summer cottage on Long Lake in Iosco County, Mich., and a condo on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. 

On the home front, he had a passion for choral music. He sang small onstage roles with the Cincinnati Opera, with his church choir, and with the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus, which led to an appearance at Carnegie Hall. Along with leadership roles in his church, he was an Explorer Scout leader.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia; children Ann and Stephen; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.